Gene has a badly broken shoulder and is unable to work. The episode will cost him at least three months (likely more) without being able to earn, to say nothing of hospital and physical rehab bills. So Gene’s friends are assembling an auction to help him make it through this rough patch. Want to help? Contribute. Bid. Spread the word.

Life is unorthodox and this event will be, too. Some items will be sold on Ebay (which means short deadlines and fees); less expensive items will be sold here with longer deadlines. Winners will be contacted via email; payments will go to the “Gene Colan Special Account”.

When items post, please bid on multiple items—this allows us to combine shipping. To bid, send LOT#, description and bid via email to cliffmeth@aol.com (put “Colan Bid” in subject). If your bid is winning, your initials will be posted next to the item that evening.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

As we circle the wagons to help Gene Colan, I find myself in touch with old friends and had the great pleasure of speaking with Joe Sinnott for quite some time this morning about Gene and Dick Giordano and careers and what a drag it is getting old and what a blessing it is to have family when it happens and how it doesn’t necessarily beat the alternative when you don’t.

“It’s been tough since Betty passed away,” said Joe remembering his wife of 56 years. “She did everything for me. I never even wrote a check. But I've got my kids and my grandkids--they all live very close by and we’re together all the time. I just got back from breakfast at my daughter’s home. She’s just 10 minutes from here and I have breakfast there every Sunday.”

Joe, who is nearly 84 now (just like Gene) also suffered a bad shoulder injury four years ago, from which he’s only partially recovered. He was visiting his pal Mickey Spillane at his new home (the first one having been torn up by Hurricane Hugo) when he suddenly pitched forward and fell off the author’s deck, breaking his shoulder in four places. “I can still draw but I can’t easily lift the shoulder to dip my brush in ink,” says Joe. “So I use the other hand to dip the brush. There’s still pain but you get used to it, you know? I’m just grateful that I can still draw. I love the work. That’s what keeps you young.”Joe is looking forward to Pittsburg Comicon. “My son Mark, who is 49, loves these comics conventions and he knows more about comics than I ever did, so we go to everything together. I just look forward to seeing old friends so I’m sorry Gene won’t be there. I’ve always admired his work and we’re friends for many years.”

Everything Joe talks about has a silver lining. He mentions how grateful he is knowing that one day he’ll leave behind a legacy of work for his family to look back on. But clearly that’s only a small part of what they’ll remember. Despite his wife being gone, and the recent tragic loss of one of his daughters, everything is beautiful to Joe Sinnott.

photos of Joe Sinnott and Gene Colan at Creation Con 1977 (top) and in 2007 (bottom) courtesy of Mark Sinnott)

As noted here, Gene Colan is hospitalized with injuries and will be unable to work again any time soon. Sadly, he does not have the financial means to retire. We are still trying to figure out when he can leave the hospital and who will help him when he does. Gene entered the hospital on March 31 (19 days ago).

Gene's friends and fellow pros (among them Stan Lee, Harlan Ellison and Walter Simonson) are working together to help Gene. The list of people who have voluntered to do drawings or send art or other material for auction grows every day. Some of those items will be available later today. I will also update the list of those contrubuting today.

Gene's webstore has been closed for nearly two weeks. Some of his pages, previously offered there, will be available again soon. There is still artwork missing.

Check this blog regularly for updates (I suggest that you subsribe--it's free).

Your cards and letters to Gene will be personally delivered to him. Please do not send items to auction that have an auction value of less than $25 (it's just too time-consuming, sorry).

Today is Gene Colan’s 17th day in the hospital. He is blind in one eye. He is functioning on 10% of his liver. But he was still working until March 31 when his shoulder was broken. We don’t know when he’ll be coming home but when he does he’ll need help just getting dressed… and help is arriving.

A soon-to-be announced art auction with contributions from Gene’s friends, fans and fellow pros is being planned. Artists Bill Sienkiewicz and Joe Rubenstein, as well as Handsome Dick Manitoba of the legendary punk rock band “The Dictators” have contacted me and promised donations. They join Stan Lee, Harlan Ellison and Walter Simonson. I’m certain the list will continue to grow.

Glenn Hauman of ComicMix is at C2E2 in Chicago this weekend and will be soliciting contributions from pros. You can also contact me at cliffmeth@aol.com if you’d like to contribute.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

After 16 days of hospitalization, Gene Colan is taking regular walks now, but his doctors still aren't ready to release him yet. His shoulder injury requires that he receive extra care once he gets home and he’ll also be walking with a cane now. While his bones are expected to heal in another ten weeks or so, Gene (now 83) will need ongoing physical therapy.

The broken wing also means Gene won’t be drawing and, thus, will be unable to earn a living any time soon as much of his income depends on commissions.

So Gene’s friends responded with the three most important words in the English language: Let me help.

Items for an art and comics auction are now being collected and you'll soon see a piece from Gene’s pal Walter Simonson at Walter’s Facebook page… Harlan Ellison and Stan Lee are also participating.

Glenn Hauman of ComicMix will work with me to solicit artists for contributions beginning this weekend.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

First, the Colan family appreciates the overwhelming show of concern for Gene at this time. I apologize that I can't keep up with the personal emails regarding this matter; details that I am allowed to report on will be left here at this blog.

Second, Gene now has an attorney. I am working with him and the entire family to safeguard Gene's health and privacy. As such, we ask bloggers not to circulate unfounded rumors. Wait for the facts.

Someone got their hands on Gene's personal phone book and placed anonymous calls to Gene's friends (among them Stan Lee, Harlan Ellison, Walter Simonson and myself) telling half-truths and attempting to stir the pot and make matters worse. Bad move. The police and Gene's lawyer will handle this in time.

Gene was not mugged.

Gene's injuries are serious but not life threatening. He is in good spirits. But unless you are a close friend of his who he has personally reached out to, now is not the best time to disturb him. As promised, I will show him comments left at this blog and deliver personal letters to him emailed to me. Gene does not have internet access; his sight is poor and he was never one to email, so don't take unreturned emails to him personally.

For those of you concerned about The Invincible Gene Colan books that you've ordered, see my recent post at this blog. If you're concerned regarding artwork that you ordered from Gene, email me privately at CliffMeth@aol.com -- Use your brain: Now is NOT the time to inquire about new commissions; Gene cannot work again until he recovers. Only contact me if you've paid for something that was not delivered and include payment information. I will deliver your information to the appropriate parties.

Why am I reporting on this? Because Gene and his son and daughter asked me to; we hope to stop missing artwork from hitting the marketplace, and to end rumors that were already circulating from other sources via email regarding Gene's injuries before I made my first post.

Friday, April 9, 2010

In the interests of protecting Gene Colan while he is recovering from his injuries, his son and daughter ask that he is not disturbed by bloggers or members of the press. Statements regarding Gene and his condition will be made by the family. Gene, who is resting comfortably, also asked me to handle any industry press regarding his condition and missing artwork.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Gene Colan’s children have asked me to reach out to the comics community on behalf of their father.

Gene was injured last week and is now being cared for by his son. In addition, it appears that some of Gene’s artwork has disappeared, including pages from Nathanial Dusk and a Star Wars-related piece. The police are involved in the matter.

If Gene Colan art is currently circulating in the marketplace, it is possible that these pieces were stolen. Please email me if you see artwork that is the least bit questionable.

I spoke with Gene early this evening and he is in good spirits, as always. Unfortunately, he is also in pain and unable to use his right arm and hand at this time due to a broken shoulder. Well-wishers should feel free to use the comments section of this blog; I will make certain that Gene sees your notes.

I will continue to update the community with regards to Gene's progress.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Marvel's new ship date for The Invincible Gene Colan has caused Diamond to move into an "order adjustment process." The books should arive at Diamond's warehouse on Apr 28, which means the earliest street date is now May 12.

In the mean time, there's been many stories of Gene's failing health, but I spoke with Gene at length on Monday; his recent medical procedures went very well and he was in great spirits and sounded as young and chipper as I've heard him in decades. It doesn't appear that he will making any convention appearances any time soon, though.

If you haven't yet ordered The Invincible Gene Colan, I urge you to visit Aardwolf Publishing, which will have the exclusive signed and remarqued editions.

Meth Addict

Attempting to post comments to this blog? Note that I don't accept anonymous comments. No guts, no glory.

Eye of the Beholder

Meth is a dangerous writer. He doesn’t seem to care if you like him.- Neal Adams

Meth’s writing is fresh and absorbing—clever and replete with surprises.- Stan Lee

Anyone who can give Barry Windsor-Smith a pissy fit is okay in my book.- Joe Staton

The only thing about Cliff’s writing that makes me crazy is the demented titles he puts on them. For a guy who writes as well as he does, and who thinks as deeply as he does, I can’t figure it out! - Harlan Ellison

Clifford Meth is one of dark fiction's best-kept secrets.- Barnes and Noble

Meth is one of the more intriguing writers of short stories to arrive in recent years. A damned fine writer. He does not write the easy stories.- Tony Isabella / The Comic Buyer’s Guide

Meth’s imagination, integrity and insight are touched by a dark, often perverse humor. It’s always exciting to discover new writers on their way up—and Meth’s course is worth charting. - Jim Steranko

I don’t know how much money the Cockrums got, but having a friend like Clifford Meth is worth more than a million dollars. - John Romita

Cliff’s writing has attitude. While his stories are frequently angry or outrageous, they’re all honest insights into the human psyche. - Dave Cockrum (co-creator of The X-Men)

Meth is a unique and exciting voice--funny, twisted, visionary. His insights into character and culture are often startling and his stories, always entertaining. I am a huge fan. - Richard Saperstein, Pres. The Weinstein Company

Clifford Meth sharpens the mundane details of everyday life to a razor's edge. I know of no other experience so simultaneously depressing...and uplifting. - Steve Brown, Chairman IDT Entertainment

You write character dialogue like O'Hara & string words together so effortlessly, kiddo. Kudos to you! Love good writing--the stuff so rare in comics & animation, my two vexing venues...I'm ossified, I'm sure, by actually reading top story work. - Alex Toth

Although they're called dark fiction, there's a "real" quality to Clifford Meth's stories that lifts them up and out of his books. And each successive story remains unique enough to make me start another, wondering what he'll come up with next. - Steve Forbert

Clifford Meth knows things. Dark, dank, nasty things... He doesn't scrape away the barnacles covering the hull of human interaction so much as he lifts up the barnacles, describes what's under them, and then puts the barnacles back and walks away with his hands in his pockets, whistling in the dark. - Peter David

Clifford Meth has done more to make the comic book industry better for its creators than has the collective career of many good people working within it. Those who speak much and do little struggle to fathom how some inspire granduer with few words. To them, Clifford Meth is of the unfathomable. - Michael Netzer

[Meth's] work is about the dark side of life, as if he were sculpting beautifully realistic statues while working exclusively in blood and excrement. And then setting them on fire...I'm a huge fan. I read him mouth open and giggling, stunned, amused and aroused. - Bill Messner-Loebs

I read Clifford Meth because the guy has a unique niche. He doesn't write fiction--he writes punk fiction! - Andy Shernoff (The Dictators)

Meth's writing is dark, relentless and always in your face. It doesn’t make for easy reading, but it is highly emotional and makes you pay attention, which is the best thing a writer can do... He writes from a place others won’t walk. - Marv Wolfman (creator of Blade)

Every Clifford Meth story is a tale of two balls. - Peppi Marchello (The Good Rats)

If you have missed the true, revealing richness of [Meth's] implications, then consider this an urgent reminder--a rap on the knuckles--to read it again. - Robert Bloch (author of Psycho)

Cliff writes very well about very intimate subjects.- Steve Gerber (creator of Howard the Duck)

It's easy to be your friend when there ain't no shit coming down. It's when the nails are being driven into your wrists that you find out whether somebody is a real friend and a stand-up person. And that's Cliff. - Harlan Ellison

Cliff, on behalf of the creative community, let me be the zillionth to thank you for the great care and Ellisonian-level protectiveness you've shown to the giants. - Mark Waid

Saying good things about Clifford Meth is like giving endorsements to Zorro. - Barney Dannelke

Comics for Sale

In addition to representing Dave Cockrum's personal collection for his Estate, I am selling my Silver Age collection. Click here for details.